Bismillah
Exactly Universist, we are not free but we are enslaved only to Allah by our choice. Rather than being enslaved to Pierre Cardin, Christian Dior or to a career path, or to means of making fortune. or or or .....etc the list can go forever.
alliex explained in a brief manner, we are free to make choices not to submit except to Allah or submit to the society, community, region...etc.
Like wise I dont think you will be able to grasp this concept although it is very simple.
I have the choice to abide by the dress code or not. I abide by it willingly and see no harm or oppression in this, i have the choice to establish prayer or not, Alhamdulelah, I choose to keep it and observe it all the time, I have a choice to drink alcohl or not I choose not to, I have a choice to go for sex without marriage, I choose not to willingly. I mean Allah Is not holding a sword to my neck making me choose to abide by His rules, I choose to with full conviction.
Hope you get the point I really hope so. You sound a reasonable and intelligent person. Although you resort to moching and disrespecting people around just to hide your insecurity.
But you prefer to turn a blind eye from the truth even if you see it, just to keep standing where you are.